Assembrix, Boeing, EOS, 3T Additive Manufacturing and BEAMIT have successfully demonstrated secured cross-continent, distributed additive manufacturing via a fully controlled 3D printing solution remotely and directly connected to EOS 3D printers.

Assembrix’s cloud-based platform, Virtual Manufacturing Space (VMS), virtualizes 3D industrial printing and oversees the entire additive manufacturing thread, from the initial part model to the verified physical part and beyond. EOS, 3T Additive Manufacturing and BEAMIT are all additive manufacturing solution providers, whilst Boeing is a major aerospace company.

The solution incorporates technology from Boeing, Assembrix’s VMS platform, and a blockchain, integrated with EOS industrial 3D printing technologies. Assembrix states the demonstration by the partnership companies is a “major step towards enabling a secure and transparent 21st century distributed additive manufacturing (AM) supply chain model that could be used by companies across the world”.

Lior Polak, CEO of Assembrix, said, “We are providing our clients with a virtual additive manufacturing factory, where 3D printers using a variety of technologies and in different geographic locations are remotely and securely controlled. This concept is breaking the boundaries of traditional manufacturing and makes distributed additive manufacturing a reality.

“We are delighted to partner with industry-leading players in aerospace, automotive and medical to showcase our additive manufacturing secured network and see clients around the world embracing and leveraging our technology. Today, more than ever we see an increasing need for such a solution”.

The potential benefits of the globally distributed additive manufacturing model include secured production, with jobs assigned to individual machines within a manufacturer and the IP fully protected with an auditable transaction trail. This enables customers to ensure excess parts are not produced and protect their design instructions.

Another potential positive is real-time monitoring, where customers can monitor job progress in real-time. There’s also data collection and monitoring, so data from the machine can be monitored to ensure it is within the parameters defined by the customer for the job. This takes into account factors that can impact the performance and final quality of a part, including machine bay humidity, temperature, print speed or cooling.

ASSEMBRIX Cross-Continent 3D Printing

Assembrix’s logo for the solution. Image: Assembrix.

Dan Johns, CEO 3T Additive Manufacturing and CTO BEAMIT Group, said, “Being able to securely connect the customer directly to the AM machine, anywhere in the world, has been a long-standing vision within the community.

“The end-to-end digital integration of a supply chain transforms the business model of traditional manufacturing to a scalable and flexible network of virtual warehouses for on-demand supply, with security and quality embedded into the system. The ability to digitize the complete value chain with our strategic partner Sandvik, means that BEAMIT Group is now able to offer the next generation of advanced manufacturing services”.

Assembrix says that building a secure digital manufacturing environment for additive manufacturing relies not only on the security enabled by the blockchain but “especially on a tight integration ‘on-machine’ between Assembrix and EOS software”.

Assembrix was one of the first members of the EOS Developer Network (EDN), and together with BEAMIT and 3T Additive Manufacturing, has used the EOS software platform through the EOSPRINT and EOSCONNECT APIs to create this end-to-end solution for controlled distributed manufacturing.

Markus Glasser, Senior Vice President EMEA at EOS concluded, “Industrial 3D printing allows for demand-driven production, streamlines processes, and makes the supply chain more robust and sustainable. Combining the technology with digital manufacturing structures results in maximum transparency thanks to real-time reporting, flexibility and performance. There are many benefits to this approach, including increased transparency of supply chains, adapting products to individual or regional tastes and even a reduced product carbon footprint”.

You can find more information about the remote cross-continent 3D printing solution created by Assembrix, alongside Boeing, EOS, 3T Additive Manufacturing and BEAMIT on the companies’ respective websites.

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